Zanardi returns to motorsport with BMW

Former Formula One driver Alessandro Zanardi, who lost both legs following a crash in 2001, is returning to motorsport as a BMW factory driver.

The 47-year-old Italian will take part in the 2014 Blancpain Sprint Series, racing a BMW Z4 GT3 for the ROAL Motorsport outfit, BMW said Tuesday.

Zanardi, who won two gold medals in hand bike racing at the 2012 London Paralympics, raced with the same team, formerly Ravaglia Motorsport, in the European Touring Car Championship in 2004 and the world championship between 2005 and 2009.

Zanardi said he had been motivated to return to motorsport after testing the BMW M3 DTM in 2012 and was eagerly looking forward to "a new adventure".

"In my heart even after leaving in 2009 I have always remained a racing driver," he said.

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He will take part in six of seven weekends in the sprint series from April to November in a specially-adapted car using only hand controls.

BMW motorsport chief Jens Marquardt said: "I cannot express how delighted I am that one of the greatest heroes in the history of BMW motorsport is returning to the cockpit of one of our racing cars.

"From both a human and a sporting aspect, Alex is a role model to all of us."

Zanardi had both legs amputated after crashing in the US Champ Car series at Germany's Lausitzring in 2001. Before the accident he had raced in 41 Formula One grands prix and won the Champ Car series in 1997 and 1998.

He returned to racing less than two years after his accident in 2001 and won four races in the world touring car championship driving a modified BMW.